SeasonMapSt Ives weather in December
United Kingdom
December in St Ives: cold, soaked, with clean air — not the time — 19 rainy days.
#12 of 12 months in St Ives · #1307 of 1383 destinations to visit in December · comfort 34/100 (tier F)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on St Ives in December
Other months in St Ives
St Ives's forum is candid that August weather is genuinely a coin flip — some years dry, warm and sunny throughout, others rain for most of the month, with plenty in between. Regulars are consistent that August is also peak season locally, rammed with school-holiday visitors regardless of what the sky is doing, and point to September as a calmer alternative with comparably decent weather odds.
Add your own note from St Ives's card on the map.
St Ives climate normals — December
| Daytime high | 11°C / 52°F | 🧥 cold |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 7°C / 45°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 7°C / 45°F | |
| Sea temperature | 11°C / 52°F | 🥶 cold sea |
| Rainfall | 153 mm / 6 in | ⛈ soaked |
| Rainy days | 19 days | |
| Humidity | 83% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | 7°C / 44°F | |
| Sunshine | 3.7 h/day | |
| Daylight | 8.1 h | |
| Wind | 36 km/h / 22 mph | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 46 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in St Ives in December
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
BusyChristmas holidays in United Kingdom, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for St Ives's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Toughest weatherSt Ives's weather peaks June–August, best around July.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in St Ives in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Season
Atlantic swell at Porthmeor
15 Sep – 31 Mar · usuallySurf seasonPorthmeor only really works when the autumn and winter groundswells come in, which is exactly when the town is empty. Wetsuits every month of the year.
- Closure
Out of season
1 Nov – 1 Mar · usuallyA good share of the restaurants and galleries close or drop to weekends from November, and the Tate keeps winter hours. The harbour and the coast path are the reason to come anyway. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of St Ives — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is St Ives?
St Ives in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit St Ives?
- December in St Ives: cold, soaked, with clean air — not the time — 19 rainy days. It ranks #12 of 12 months for St Ives on SeasonMap's comfort score (34/100).
- What is the weather like in St Ives in December?
- In December, St Ives averages a daily high of 10.9°C and a low of 7°C, with about 153.1 mm of rain over roughly 19.3 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in St Ives in December?
- St Ives has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 46 in December.
Other months in St Ives
Compare St Ives in December
Warmer or cooler than St Ives in December
Similar destinations in Northern Europe — December
Within 300 km: Bristol's Bristol Christmas Market on 6 Nov – 23 Dec, and Bath's Bath Christmas Market on 26 Nov – 13 Dec.